Nothing wrong with feeding baby formula

In reference to the Sept. 26 article. “Do hospital freebies undermine breast-feeding?,” it would be a shame if hospitals got rid of these free samples of formula. Not every woman can or wants to breast feed. I have an 8-month-old son who was not breast fed. He was strictly formula fed, which was my choice and that of my husband’s. He has never been sick and is already walking.

The samples given to us by the hospital were helpful in choosing the formula that was right for our baby. In addition to the samples we received, there were sample feeding schedules for all babies regardless of whether they were being breast fed or formula fed, pamphlets on caring for your newborn, coupons for diapers and other useful resources.

Some of the comments in this article were a bit offensive to those of us who have chosen not to breast feed. For example, the comment stating getting formula “is like giving somebody divorce papers at their wedding” seems like an extreme analogy. My hospital was supportive of my choice, and I did not feel pressured one way or the other.

I have several friends who have felt pressure from hospitals to breast feed when they haven’t been sure they wanted to. People who don’t breast feed don’t chastise those who do, and we should not be looked down upon for our personal choices.

Jennifer and Kevin Christian

Algonquin